Can puncturing apparatus



April 18, 1961 C. R. HOPPER 2,979,816

CAN PUNCTURING APPARATUS Filed July 1o, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 18, 1961 c. R. HOPPER 2,979,816

CAN PUNCTURING APPARATUS Filed July l0, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

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United States Parent@ CAN PUNCTURING APPARATUS Clyde R. Hopper, Norman, Okla. (15629 S. Harris Ave., Compton, Calif.)

\ Filed July 1o, 1959, ser. No. 826,195

s claims. (ci. :ao-4) The present invention relates to an apparatus for puncturing the top of a can such as a beer can.

Previously proposed andl presently in use are beer can puncturing devices in various forms. Some of the proposed and are in use have not met with commercial success for many reasons, principally, that each of such devices proposed has been expensive to fabricate and install. Other devices proposed have failed for reasons of lack of suicient safety afforded the operator thereof, multiplicity of parts diicult to fabricate and assemble, and inaccessibility of the cutting elements which puncture the can when replacement is deemed necessary.

An object of the present invention is to provide a can puncturing apparatus which affords the operator thereof complete safety when puncturing a can, one in which the cutting or puncturing elements are readily accessible t0 an operator for replacement when necessary, one having a positive drive action, and one highly effective in action.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a can puncturing apparatus which is sturdy in construction, one economical to manufacture and assemble, one having relatively few parts readily replaceable when worn, and one which is automatic in operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunctionl with the annexed drawings, in which: Y

Figure l is an isometric view of the can puncturing apparatus of the present invention; L

Figure 2 is an elevational view, viewed from the front of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 with the cover removed;

Figure 3 is a plan view, with the cover removed;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view with the cover removed, a portion of the frame of the apparatus being shown broken away; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view partially in section, as viewed from the other side with respect to Figure 4.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which 'like numerals indicate like Yparts throughout the several views, the can puncturing apparatus of the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and comprises an upstanding housing 12 in the form of an open bottom cover having a portion of its front wall 14 provided with an opening 16.

The apparatus 10 includes a platform 18 extending inwardly from theV open front wall 14 of the housing 12, the platform 18 being of a size to support an upstanding can thereon, such a can being shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 and designated by the numeral 20.

The apparatus 10 includes a block or base 22, the upper surface of which forms the platform 18, and above which rises a skeleton frame 24 including a pair of opposed side edge angle iron frame members 26 and 28 secured by conventional fastening elements such as screws 30 to the base 22.

Rising from the forward end'of the frame members 26 and 28 are uprights 32 and 34, each fabricated of angle iron or the like. Rising from the rearward end of the frame members 26 and 28 are other uprights 36 and 38, as shown most clearly in Figure 3.

The upper ends of the uprights 32 and 36 are connected together by an angle iron top piece 48, and the upper ends of the other uprights 34 and 38 are connected by a second angle iron top piece 42.

Extending between the uprights 32 and 36 are horizontally disposed side pieces 44 and 46, each formed of angle iron, disposed so that their horizontal legs are spaced from each other and their vertical l'egs are in abutting edge to edge relation. Other side pieces 48 and 50 are similarly disposed between the uprights 34 and 38 and are in lateral spaced relation with respect to the side pieces 44 and 46, intermediate the ends of the uprights 32, 34, 36, and 38.

Front and rear horizontal angle iron pieces 52 and 54 extend between the side pieces 44 and 48 and have their horizontal legs supported on the horizontal legs of such side pieces 44 and 48.

. An overhead floating plate 56 is positioned between the pieces 52 and 54 and has its ends within the channels formed by the vertical flanges of the side pieces 44 and 48,

and 46 and 50.

Four bolts 58 extend through the horizontal flanges of the side pieces 44 and 48, and 46, 50, and through holes provided in the side edge portions of the floating plate 56. Therbolts 58 connect the floating plate 56 to the frame 24 for upward and downward movement.

Puncturing elements 60 and 62 are arranged in spaced relation and depend from the underface of the floating plate 56, each of the elements 60 and 62 having a threaded upper end portion threaded in a bore provided in the floating plate 56 with a suitable lock nut 64 securing each of the elements 60 and 62 to the oating plate 56.

Supported intermediate the ends of the angle iron pieces 52 and 54 are bearing blocks 66 and 68, respectively, in which are journaled the end portions of a drive Vshaft 70.

78 is mounted upon the crank 76 for free rotationY thereabout.

The crank 76 constitutes a member adjacent the shaft 70 and connected to theV shaft 7G for rotation with the latter. v

The roller 78 constitutes means connecting the oating plate 56 to the crank 76 so that the floating plate 56 moves upwardly and downwardly with respect to the platform 18 responsive to rotary movement of the shaft 70.

A combined motor and speed reduction unit, designated generally by the numeral 80, is positioned between and rearwardly of the uprights 34 and 38 above the platform 18 and is txedly secured to transverse angle iron members 82. The output shaft 84 of the unit 8d is connected by a exible coupling 86 to the portion of the shaft 70 adjacent the bearing block 68, as shown most clearly in Figure 4.

A semicylindrical partition 88 is positioned inwardly of the opening 16 in the housing front wall 14 and has its. lower end resting upon the platform. I SJ. 'Ille pali.- Y

tition 88 is formed with a slot 90 through which projects a portion adjacent one end of a resilient switch actuating Yelement 92.` The other end of'V theelement 92 is pivotally connected within a microswitch 19,4. Which Vis normally' in off position and' is shifted to on position when'the element 92 is Inox/edfrearwardly` tltrpnglggV the slot 99 in response to pressure'thereon of the wall of a can to be opened.

Wires` 96 connect the microswitch 94 to a common switch 98 which has operating buttons 10); exterlorly of the frame 24 and accessible to a `nser'of the'appa- Vratus 10 when the housing i2 is`removed from; the

Vframe 24. t

In use, the electric supply cord 192' is'pluggedinto a conventional electrical outlet box and the apparatus 10 is supported in a convenient place accessible Yto an individual having cans to open, such as a bartender or the like. Upon insertion of a can to be opened in the housing opening 16 and into abutting engagement with theV projecting end portion of the element 92, the micro- Yswitch 94 is shifted to closedv condition, energizing the motor of the unit Si) and effecting the rotation of the Shaft 7i? s'o that the roller 78 travels downwardly and into engagement with the upper face of the floating plate S5. This causes the floating plate 56 to move down- -v -wardly and to project the pointed lower 'end portion of the-blade elements 6) Vand 62 simultaneously through the top of the can 2t? when the later is positioned on the platform 18. As the shaft 70continues to rotate, the crank 76 is carried upwardly so that the roller 78 no longer engages the floating plate 56 and the floating plate is returned to its upward movement position under the action of springs 134 which have their upper ends hooked in the top pieces 40 and 42V and their lower ends hooked in the adjacent parts of the floating plate 56.

Y Upon removal of the punctured can 20 from the platform 18, the switch 94 returns to open position deenergzing the motor the unit 80 and bringing the shaft 70 to a stop with the roller above the shaft 70 and out of engagement with the floating plate 56.

What is claimed is:

1. In a can puncturng apparatus, a platform adapted to support an opstanding can to be punctured, an overhead oating plate, at least two puncturing elements arranged in spacedV relation and dependingly carried by said floating plate, a drive shaft, a member embodying a crank adjacent said shaftV and connected to said drive shaft for rotation with the latter, and means embodying a roller on said crank connecting said floating plate to said member so thatsaid floating plate moves upwardly andY downwardly with respect to said platform respon` sive to rotary-movement of said crank.

2. In a can puncturing apparatus, a platform adapted to support an upstanding can to be punctured, an overhead floating plate, at least two puncturing elements arranged in spaced relation and dependingly carried by said floating plate, a drive shaft, a member adjacent 'said shaft and connected to said drive shaft for rotation with fV Y f man the. latterl means connecting Said floating Plate tosaid member so that said floating plate moves downwardly with respect to said platform responsive to rotary movement of said member, and spring meansroperatively con- 5 nected to said floating plate urging Vthe latter to its upward movement position.

3. In a can puncturing apparatus, la platform adapted to support an `upstanding can to be punctured, an overhead floating plate, at least two puncturing elements 'arranged in spaced relation and dependingly carried by said floating plate, a drive shaft, a member embodying a crank adjacent said s ,haft and connected to said drive shaft for rotation with the latter, means embodying a roller on said cra-nk`fconnecting said floating plate to said member so that said floating plate moves downwardly with respect to said platform responsive to rotary movement of said crank, andV spring means operatively connected to said floating plate urging the latter to its upward movement position.

4. A can puncturing apparatus comprising a platform adapted to support an upstanding can to be punctured, ak frame rising-.from said platform, a floating plate disposed above said platform and connected to said frame for upward and downward movement, at least two puncturing elements arranged in spaced relation and dependinglyV carried by said floating plate, a drive shaft positioned above said floating plate, a crank carried on saidshaft,A a roller rotatably mounted on said crank and engageable with said floating plate so as to effect the downward movement of said floating plate responsive to rotation of said shaft, and means operatively connected to said shaft for effecting the rotation of the latter.

5. A can puncturing apparatus comprising a platform adapted to. support an upstanding can to be punctured, a frame rising from said platform, a tioating plate disposed above said platform and connected to said frame for upward and downward movement, at least two pune turing elements arranged in spaced relation and' dependingly carriedv by said floating plate, a drive shaft positioned above said floating plate, a crank carried on said shaft, a roller rotatably mounted on said crank and engageable with said oating plate so as to effect the downward movement ofsaid floating plate `responsive to rotation-of saidl shaft, means operatively connected to said shaft for effectingl the rotation ofthe latter, and spring means operatively connected tosaid floating plate urging the latter to its upward movement position.

References Cited in the, file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS i i 990.117 Germany Dec. 21,1953 

